Sarin

What is sarin?

Sarin is a man-made chemical warfare agent classified as a nerve agent. Nerve agents are the most toxic and rapidly acting of the known chemical warfare agents. They are similar to certain kinds of insecticides called organophosphate insecticides in terms of how they work and what kind of harmful effects they cause; however, nerve agents are much more potent than insecticides. Sarin is a clear, colorless, and tasteless liquid that has no odor in its pure form. However, sarin can evaporate into a vapor (gas) and spread into the environment. Sarin is also known as GB.

Is sarin fatal?

Exposure to large doses of sarin by any route
may result in the following harmful health effects, including loss of
consciousness, convulsions, paralysis and respiratory failure, possibly
leading to death.

How do I protect myself and others from exposure to sarin?

Recovery
from sarin exposure is possible with treatment, but the antidotes
available must be used quickly to be effective. Therefore, the best
thing to do is avoid exposure. If exposure cannot be avoided, rapidly
decontaminate and get medical care as quickly as possible. Leave the
area where the sarin was released and get to fresh air. Quickly moving
to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing
the possibility of death from exposure to sarin vapors. If the sarin
release was outdoors, move away from the area where the sarin was
released. Go to the highest ground possible, because sarin is heavier
than air and will sink to low-lying areas. If the sarin release was
indoors, get out of the building.

Remove any clothing that has
liquid sarin on it, and if possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag.
Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing and
sealing the clothing in this way will protect you and others from any
chemicals that might be on your clothes. If helping other people remove
their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove
the clothing as quickly as possible.

Rinse the eyes with plain
water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are burning or if vision is blurry.
As quickly as possible, wash any liquid sarin from the skin with large
amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will protect
people from any chemicals on their bodies. If sarin has been swallowed,
do not induce vomiting or give fluids to drink. Seek medical attention
immediately. Stay calm. Dial 911 and explain what has happened. Wait for
emergency personnel to arrive.

How is exposure to sarin treated?

Sarin poisoning is treated
with antidotes, if necessary, and with supportive medical care. The most
important thing is for victims to be rapidly decontaminated and to be
given medical treatment as soon as possible.

What are the signs and symptoms of exposure to sarin?

People
may not know that they were exposed because sarin has no odor. For a
list of symptoms of possible exposure to sarin, visit the following
page: Sarin Exposure Symptoms

What are the long term effect of exposure to sarin?

Mild or
moderately exposed people usually recover completely. Some studies in
animals and people suggest that severe nerve agent poisoning can cause
long-term central nervous system effects, such as changes in brain
activity. However, it is unclear what such changes may mean, if
anything, regarding the function and long-term health status of a person
who has been mildly or moderately exposed to sarin.

What do I do if I suspect I was exposed to sarin?

If people
think they may have been exposed, they should remove their clothing,
rapidly wash their entire body with soap and water, and get medical care
as quickly as possible. If sarin has been swallowed, do not induce
vomiting or give fluids to drink. Seek medical attention immediately.
Dial 911 and explain what has happened.

Quickly take off clothing
that has liquid sarin on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the
head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If
possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag. Then seal the first
plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing and sealing the clothing
in this way will help protect people from any chemicals that might be on
their clothes. If clothes were placed in plastic bags, inform either
the local or state health department or emergency personnel upon their
arrival. Do not handle the plastic bags. If helping other people remove
their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove
the clothing as quickly as possible.

As quickly as possible, wash
any liquid sarin from the skin with large amounts of soap and water.
Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals
on their bodies. Rinse the eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes if
they are burning or if vision is blurred.

Is sarin contagious?

People who are externally contaminated
with sarin can contaminate other people or surfaces that they touch. For
example, people who have sarin on their clothing may spread it when
they sit in chairs or hug other people.

Is there a vaccine or antidote for exposure to sarin?

Sarin
poisoning is treated with antidotes, if necessary, and with supportive
medical care. The most important thing is for victims to be rapidly
decontaminated and to be given medical treatment as soon as possible.

How does exposure to sarin occur?

If sarin is released into the
air, people may be exposed through skin contact or eye contact. They
may also be exposed by breathing air that contains sarin. If sarin is
released into water, people may be exposed by touching or drinking water
that contains sarin. If sarin comes in contact with food, people may be
exposed by eating the contaminated food.

A person's clothing can
release sarin for about 30 minutes after it has come in contact with
sarin vapor. Other people can be exposed to sarin if they breathe this
sarin gas. Because sarin breaks down slowly in the body, people who are
repeatedly exposed to sarin may suffer more harmful health effects

Where is sarin found?

Sarin is not found naturally in the environment.

How does sarin work?

The extent of poisoning that sarin causes
depends on 3 factors: the amount of sarin to which they were exposed,
how they were exposed, and how long the exposure lasted. Symptoms will
appear within a few seconds after exposure to the vapor form of sarin
and within a few minutes up to 18 hours after exposure to the liquid
form. All the nerve agents cause their toxic effects by preventing the
proper operation of the chemical that acts as the body's "off switch"
for glands and muscles. Without an "off switch," the glands and muscles
are constantly being stimulated. They may tire and no longer be able to
sustain breathing function.

Sarin vapor is heavier than air, so it
would be more likely to settle in low-lying areas. Because sarin mixes
easily with water, water can easily be contaminated. Sarin is the most
volatile of the nerve agents, which means that it can easily and quickly
evaporate from a liquid into a vapor and spread into the environment.
People can be exposed to the vapor even if they do not come in contact
with the liquid form of sarin. Because it evaporates so quickly, sarin
presents an immediate, but short-lived, threat.

What other risks are there for exposure to sarin?

Mild or
moderately exposed people usually recover completely. Severely exposed
people are not likely to survive. Unlike some organophosphate
pesticides, nerve agents have not been associated with neurological
problems lasting more than 1 to 2 weeks after the exposure.

What other risks are there for exposure to sarin?

Mild or
moderately exposed people usually recover completely. Severely exposed
people are not likely to survive. Unlike some organophosphate
pesticides, nerve agents have not been associated with neurological
problems lasting more than 1 to 2 weeks after the exposure.

Are there any historical uses or accidents involving sarin?

Sarin
originally was developed in 1938 in Germany as an insecticide. Sarin
and other nerve agents may have been used in chemical warfare during the
Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Sarin was used in 2 terrorist attacks in
Japan in 1994 and 1995.